Managed to get sufficient in-focus to use the DS filter. Not sure I like the image any better even though I used 60s, 120s and 180s subs instead of just 30s.

The solution to get the extra focus for the DSLR and DS filter was not obvious and involved using 2 standard camera filter stepper rings, moving the primary mirror up the tube using the collimation screws and some jiggery-pokery.

Still have that horrible green/blue colour caused by the filter that I haven’t quite been able to white-balance out yet, and there is significant coma from the telescope.

Posted on January 20th, 2010

First image using my new Skywatcher Explorer 200P. I like the results – definitely my best M42. Only problem is that I can’t achieve focus with the Canon DSLR and Deep Sky filter – not enough in-travel. Need a solution to that.

Think collimation is off and tracking is a bit loose – but apart from that not bad.

Posted on January 16th, 2010

2009-09-09 22:01 UT Lunation 20.46 days
Seeing 5/10, Transparency 6/10
180mm f15 Mak-Cass Philips SPC900NC
Mosaic of 30×60s 5fps avi’s
Stacked in Registax, Stitched and processed in PhotoShop CS3

Used automated PhotoMerge in PS CS3 to do the stitching. Much easier than manual stitching in iMerge

Posted on September 10th, 2009

Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) and M52 in Cassiopeia
2009-08-24 C80ED f7.5 Canon EOS 350D Guided
3 x 180s subs, ISO 800, Lumicon Deep Sky filter
Processed in Nebulosity and PhotoShop CS3
Only had time for 3 subs before the clouds rolled in. Not bad considering…

Posted on September 10th, 2009

I was looking at some of the latest HiRISE images from Mars today and found an amazing rolling boulder trail down the side of a crater. Just incredible the amount of detail the MRO is getting with this instrument! There is some amazing media including flythrough clips too.

Posted on September 3rd, 2009

Decided to change from my Joomla-based website as it so much more complicated to work with than WordPress. I use WordPress as a CMS rather than just blogging software. With a bit of customisation you can have a very usable content-managed website with a nice simple blog-style interface. I like it – but I’m biased as I use for quite a few of the sites I’ve developed recently.

Posted on September 1st, 2009

M31, M32 and M110 all caught on the same image of the Great Andromeda Galaxy. Still needs some more photons. Also M52, an open cluster, which has the Bubble Nebula in the same frame.

Just bought Nebulosity too which makes a difference as I wasn’t really happy with the results I was getting from DSS. From the little I’ve used Nebulosity so far – I like it!

Posted on August 18th, 2009

First attempt at the double cluster in Perseus – on the Deep Sky page. I love these 2 clusters – think they look better live through an eyepiece though.

Posted on August 7th, 2009

First attempt at imaging Jupiter with the Skymax 180. Better than I expected considering it was very low in the sky (about 17 degrees high).

Posted on August 6th, 2009

A new attempt at M103 using the C80ED this time. Also an interesting asterism towards the bottom-left: TR-1 – a close alignment of 4/5 stars (looks like a short straight line at this scale).

Posted on August 6th, 2009

An amazing display of noctilucent clouds as viewed from Edinburgh on the Other images page.

Posted on July 21st, 2009

First galaxy image in the Messier colletion: M51. Still a long way to go with this. The image scale is too small.

Posted on April 13th, 2009

The start of a new project: Terminator! Well just some images of the lunar terminator at different illuminations. Mosaics of the terminator just 2 frames wide. The terminator is after all the most interesting part of the Moon. This first is at 53%. You can see a 3000 pixel high version on the Terminator page.

Posted on April 7th, 2009